Dr. James Kaishian, Briarcliff Schools Superintendent, explains how the district responded after Wednesday's deadly school shooting in Florida.
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Ray Sanchez, center, is the president of the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents and superintendent of the Ossining school district. Seventy-seven school district superintendents in the council signed a letter calling on action from local, state and federal leaders regarding needed funding and gun restrictions.(Photo: Ricky Flores/The Journal News)Buy Photo

School superintendents from across the region are calling on state and federal lawmakers to enact stricter gun control legislation, and to provide funding and access to mental-health services for children and their families.

"Unless we agree to eliminate access to weapons and increase access to mental health services, then we maintain the conditions that produced the horrific murder of educators and children in Parkland, Florida," the letter said.

Ray Sanchez, Ossining superintendent and president of the LHCSS, said it was important that the superintendents came together as one, united voice on the issues of funding for mental health services in schools and restricting access to guns.

"There are issues that at times may have difference of opinion, but not this one. We all share a common concern and we all feel like it's critically important that we begin to take action," Sanchez said. "We want everyone to be sure about where we stand and we stand right here to help and support and come together to do the work."

The superintendents propose six legislative reforms:

Provide schools and communities with funding for mental health, social and guidance services;

Provide funding for districts needing internal safety upgrades to their school facilities;

Punish irresponsible gun dealers;

Restore funding for school resource officers;

Reinstate the ban on the sale, import, transfer and ownership of assault weapons

Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Westchester County, said she supports the items mentioned in the letter, adding that more can also be done.

"I think it’s a great first start, credit to them for stepping up and making the case that this is really about limiting access to guns as well as mental health — it’s not one or the other," Mayer said, adding that, "I actually think we should go much further than they do at the state level."

Mayer co-sponsored three bills in the state Assembly that would add to the proposals made by the superintendents council. All three bills, she said, were proposed before the Florida shooting, but have not gotten traction in the state Legislature.

The bills, respectively, would ban bump stocks that convert guns into rapid-fire weapons, require the state to collect data pertaining to gun violence, and create a protective order approved by a judge to have guns removed from an individual who poses a threat to themselves or others.

"To date, Republicans have refused to allow these bills to move. I would hope that after what happened they will reassess their position," Mayer said. "I'm hopeful that today is a new day and that the energy and motivation of these students from Florida will cause people to revisit their resistance to doing more on gun violence."

State Senator Terrence Murphy, a Republican whose district includes parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, said in a statement that he "applauds" the superintendents council's letter, but is confident in many of the existing gun laws in the state.

"Simple fact is New York already has the most comprehensive gun laws in the nation. Many of the scenarios we have heard in the media simply wouldn't happen because the different laws in our state," Murphy said.

In addition to supporting more school resource officers, including bills to do this that didn't pass in the Assembly last year, the senator said investing in the state's intelligence centers is a must. Murphy said he asked the state police to review its policies and procedures related to data sharing.

"We also need to make sure law enforcement has the tools to act on the information it receives and I am currently reviewing potential legislation that does just that," Murphy said. "Systemic failures that lead to the death of children cannot be tolerated."